Uniformitarianism

Harris Matrix

Each stratigraphic layer (stratification) is assigned a letter. The layers are arranged in a vertical tree, with the bottom-most (oldest) layers appearing on the bottom of the tree, and subsequently higher (newer) layers moving vertically upwards. Concurrent layers are arranged horizontally to each other.

To reveal the form of the past; to discover function; to understand culture processes; to understand the process by which similar political, social, and behavioral changes occur through time and space; to preserve, manage, and administer global heritage resources

Thermoluminescence (direct)

Vertical Excavation

Strengths:
-Understand the total occupational sequence of a site (Diachronic)
-Recover representative cultural materials for different periods of occupation
-Understand preservation conditions for all periods of occupations

Vertical Excavation

Horizontal (Clearing) Excavation

Strengths:
-Understand the relationships of features, structures, and houses from a single occupation (Synchronic)
-Recover representative cultural materials from a single period
-Understand the social, economic, and political relationships within communities

Horizontal (Clearing) Excavation

Weaknesses:
-Not able to understand total occupational history of site
-In general, excavation limited to the last major occupation of a site
-Excavations are much slower compared to vertical excavations